February 6, 2017
SHAME IS A DIRTY WORD -- NO ONE LIKES TO SAY IT (OR FEEL IT).
Psalm 25
Heather Douglass
Central Truth
Without God's redemption and restoration, sin and shame are constant companions. But God can be trusted to be our Rescuer.
Key Verse | Psalm 25:20
Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!
Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
(Psalm 25:20)
Psalm 25
Teach Me Your Paths
1 25:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet Of David.
1
To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
2
O my God, in you I trust;
let me not be put to shame;
let not my enemies exult over me.
3
Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame;
they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
4
Make me to know your ways, O LORD;
teach me your paths.
5
Lead me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all the day long.
6
Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
7
Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!
8
Good and upright is the LORD;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9
He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble his way.
10
All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
11
For your name's sake, O LORD,
pardon my guilt, for it is great.
12
Who is the man who fears the LORD?
Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.
13
His soul shall abide in well-being,
and his offspring shall inherit the land.
14
The friendship
2
25:14
Or The secret counsel
of the LORD is for those who fear him,
and he makes known to them his covenant.
15
My eyes are ever toward the LORD,
for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
16
Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
17
The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
bring me out of my distresses.
18
Consider my affliction and my trouble,
and forgive all my sins.
19
Consider how many are my foes,
and with what violent hatred they hate me.
20
Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!
Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
21
May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
for I wait for you.
22
Redeem Israel, O God,
out of all his troubles.
Dive Deeper | Psalm 25
Psalm 25 is a healing salve for my heart. I grew up in a home in which shaming was the primary means of discipline. It took years for me to understand that discipline could and should look very different. Loving correction, while it may be painful, is designed for just that—correction. God does not intend for us to feel shame, but desires for us to be grieved by our sin, led to repentance, and conformed to His character. What a merciful Father! His love is steadfast. He is patient to teach and guide us in His ways when we humble ourselves and submit to Him (verses 5-9).
But what about the feelings of shame that arise from hurt caused by someone else's sin or injustice? David, the author of this psalm, addresses that as well. His heart is deeply troubled (verses 16-17). And while David has an awareness of his own sin (verses 7, 11, 18), he is also experiencing attacks from enemies (verses 2, 17, 19).
When I am attacked or feel the injustice of another's sin, I am tempted to spiral into shame. I feel pressure to protect myself and craft just the right response that will defend my reputation. This passage reminds me to follow David's example. He doesn't ask God to give him the strategy to fight his enemies; David simply entrusts those situations to God's care. In verse 2 David writes: "O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me." And in verse 20 he adds: "Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you."
God revealed His protection for us at the cross. In that moment, all the shame this world deserves came crashing down on His Son. God did not pay that excruciating price to have sin (whether our own or others') rule over us. "He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:32)
Discussion Questions
1. Do you have any areas of your life in which you feel shame? If so, is this shame the result of your own sin or the sin of someone else? Or a combination of both?
2. If the shame is the result of your own sin, do you need to confess that sin? Is it an ongoing sin or something from your past that needs to be released to God? If it is an ongoing sin, what steps can you take to remove that shame-causing struggle from your life?
3. If the shame is the result of someone else's sin, do you believe that God can heal your circumstances? How can you pray to turn over the situation to God?